Modular electric generator for variable speed turbines

An electric power generation system, comprising:

• a turbine configured at least to rotate in a fluid flow, the fluid flow having a varying flow rate, a rotational speed of the turbine based at least in part on the flow rate of the fluid flow;
• a rotor frame connectively coupled at least with the turbine such that the rotor frame rotates around an axis of rotation with a rotational speed corresponding to the rotational speed of the turbine;
• a plurality of rotor modules connectively coupled at least with the rotor frame and arranged in one or more rings of rotor modules distributed axially or radially with respect to the axis of rotation, the plurality of rotor modules collectively configured at least to generate a magnetic field having at least one characteristic based at least in part on the rotational speed of the rotor frame;
• and
• a plurality of stator modules magnetically coupled with the plurality of rotor modules and arranged in one or more rings of stator modules corresponding to the one or more rings of rotor modules, each stator module removably coupled with a stator frame and incorporating:
• at least one generating coil configured at least to generate an alternating electric current responsive to the magnetic field;
• and
• a power electronics module incorporating an active rectifier, an inverter and a controller comprising a rectifier controller configured at least to control the incorporated active rectifier and an inverter controller configured at least to control the incorporated inverter, the incorporated controller configured at least to receive command messages from a data bus, translate the received command messages into signals for the incorporated rectifier controller and signals for the incorporated inverter controller and control the incorporated active rectifier and the incorporated inverter in accordance with the received command messages, the power electronics module configured at least to manage the generated alternating electric current at least in part with the incorporated active rectifier and the incorporated inverter and at least in part by adjusting at least one of an amplitude, a frequency and a phase of the generated alternating electric current to produce a desired magnetically-induced torque that at least partially controls rotation of the rotor frame.